Float-valve



C. L. CRAIG.

FLOAT'VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1917.

1,349,267." Patented Aug. 10,1920.

CLYDE L. CKHIG UNITED STA'I 'ES PATENT OFFICE. a

CLYDE L. CRAIG, OF WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OHIO.

FLOAT-VALVE.

Application filed January 18, 1917. .Serial No. 143,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE L. CRAIG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vvashington Court House, in the county of Fayette and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFloat-Valves, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in float valves and it isan object of the invention to provide a device of this general characterhaving novel and improved means whereby the float may be caused to rideupon the surface ofthe water onto be submerged to any predeterminedextent in accordance with the particular requirements of practice.

Furthermore it is an object of the in vention to provide a novel andimproved device of this general character whereby the float may bemaintained submerged so that the same will. be protected against interference which would possibly be imposed thereupon by the elements, suchas wind, snow, ice, or the like in the event the boat should ride uponthe surface of the water.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device ofthisgeneral character including a float operatively engaged with thevalve member together with a balancing member operatively engaged withthe valve member for controlling the position of the float relative tothe water level so that said float may be caused to ride upon thesurface of the water or be submerged to any predetermined depth when thevalve member has been seated to close the water supply.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved deviceof this general character including a buoyant body operatively engagedwith a weighted valve member whereby the valve will be caused to workagainst the pressure of the water supply when the buoyant body is not inaction so that the buoyant body may be submerged before the water supplyis completely cut off. l

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved fioatvalve whereby certain important advantages are attained and the deviceis rendered simpler, less expensive and Specification of Letters Patent.Patented Aug, 10 1920 otherwise more convenient and advanta geous foruse, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth; r

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein is disclosed a v ew partly in elevation and partly insection illustrating a float valve constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention, a coacting tank being shown in fragment. Asdisclosed in the accompanying drawings, denotes a tank of: predetermineddimensions and for any particular. purpose. Arranged within the tank Tat any desired point and preferably adjacent the bottom thereof is thestand pipe 1 in communication with a suitable source of water supply.Positioned within the stand pipe 1 is the valve member 2 which isadapted to control the discharge of the water through the pipe 1 intothe tank T.

Operatively engaged with the valve member 2 is the stem 3 which, asherein disclosed, is vertically extended above the up- .per or dischargeend of the stand pipe I,

and the free end portionof the stem 3fis returned, as indicated atlr,and then extended laterally, as at 5, said laterally extended portionbeing of such a length as required by the necessities of practice.

Slidably mounted uponthe portion 5 is the poise 6 of predeterminedweight and which is fixed in itsdiiferent positions upon the portion 5through the medium of the binding screw 7. At this time I wish to statethat I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in anyway as tothe character of the poise 6 or the manner whereby said poise is mountedor adjusted relative to the portion 5 of the stem 3, although inpractice I have found that the arrangement hereinbefore described and asillustrated in the drawings serves with a maximum of efficiency.

The returned portion 4 of the stem 3 affords a loop or eye which permitsa suitable connection with the stem 3 of the flexible member M of apredetermined length and which has its outer end portion suit ablyconnected to the buoyant body, or float 8.

.ride upon the surface of the water when the flow through the stand pipe1 is completely stopped, However, it is of especial import that thefloat or buoyant body 8 be submerged especially when the tank is of sucha character as to be employed in the open, as for agricultural or stockpurposes. It is thought to be self-evident that when the float orbuoyant body 8 is submerged no interference is. offered thereto by theelements, such as wind, snow, or ice.

The depth to which the float or buoyant body 8 will be submerged can bereadily regulated by the extentof outward adjustment of the poise 6 uponthe portion 5 of the stem. 7

When the float'or buoyant body 8 is at nearly the limit of its upwardmovement, the member Mvvill serve as a fulcrum for the stem 3. The poise6 carried by the portion 5 of the stem 3 initially maintains the stem 3angular relative to the longitudinal axis of the stand pipe 1 upon therise of the water level in the tank and when the float or buoyant body 8has rendered the member M substantially taut and the member 8 is atnearly the limit of its upward movement the marginal portion ofthe valve2 will contact with a portion of its seat arranged at the top of thestand pipe 1. The force of the water passingupwardly through the standpipe 1 will coact with the valve to gradually overcome the resistance ofthe poise 6 and completely force the valve 2 into closed position. Theperiod of time however, required to completely close the valve member 2permits the discharge of a sufficient amount of water within the tank 2to submerge the float or buoyant body 8. The water escaping from thestand pipe 1 will also exert additional pressure upon the disk 9, to behereinafter referred to, or direct upon'the float or buoyant body 8whereby the proper closing of the valve member 2 is further assured.

I also find it of advantage in practice to suitably fix to the stem 3 ata predetermined point exterior of the stand pipe 1 the disk 9, said diskbeing of such diameteras to 0bstruct the flow of water discharged fromthe pipe 1 and deflect the water so that the water as discharged willnot be thrown above the tank T. The use of this disk 9 is of particularadvantage when' the stand pipe'l is in communication with a source ofwater supply of high pressure, such as .main pressure.

'Tnterposed in the stand pipe 1 below the valve member 2 is the checkvalve 10 herein disclosed as of a flat type and provided at its axialcenter with the weight 11 to facilitate the maintenance of said checkvalve 10 in its closed position.

The use of the check valve is of importance when a plurality of tanksare employed and in ,connection with a common source-of water supply andwherein said tanks are at diflierent levels as itwill at once heself-evident that the water within the tank T will be held thereinshould a second tank at a lower level beemptied.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a floatvalve constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled, and it will also be obvious thatmy invention issusceptible of some change and modification without material. departurefrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do notwishto be understood as limiting myself vto the precise arrangement andformation of the several parts hereinshown in carrying out my inventionin practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

It will also be at once apparent that the poise 6 or its mechanicalequivalent will serve to operate or prevent the valve memher 2 beingheld in closed position under the influence of the water pressurepassing through the pipe 1 when the buoyant body or float .8 is not inaction as the poise 6 serves to tilt the valve member 2 against thewater pressure.

I claim: 1 I

1. In combination with a valve member and its seat, a buoyant bodyoperatively engaged with the valve member, and means for retarding theseating of the valve memher under the influence. of the buoyant body tosubmerge the buoyant body before the valve member isin close contactwith its seat.

2. In combination with a valve member and its seat, a buoyantbodyoperatively engaged with the valve member, and means carried by thevalve member for retarding the seating of the valve'member under theinfluenceof the buoyant body to submerge the buoyantbody before theJvalve member is in close contact with its seat. 7

3. In combination with a valve member and its seat, a buoyant 'bodyoperatively engaged with the valve member, and. adjustable means forretardingthe seating of the valve member'under' the influence of thebuoyant body to submerge the buoyant body before the valve member is inclose contact with its seat.

4. In combination with a valve member and its seat, a buoyant bodyoperatively engaged with the valve member, and means for maintaining thebuoyant body in submergence when the valve member is in closed contactwith its seat.

5. In combination with a valve member and its seat, a buoyant bodyoperatively engaged with the valve member, a lateral extension carriedby the valve member, and a poise adj ustably engaged With the extension.

6. In combination with a valve member 15 and its seat, a buoyant bodyoperatively engaged With the valve member for moving it against itsseat, a lateral extension carried by the valve member, and meanscoacting with the lateral extension for retarding the 20 seating of thevalve member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

CLYDE L. CRAIG.

Witnesses GEO. J. WEBER, W. E. LAWSON.

